Ex-CJ Bersamin is Marcos’ new executive secretary

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has picked former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin as the new executive secretary.

Bersamin took his oath before the President on Tuesday, according to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

At a press conference Tuesday, Cruz-Angeles said Bersamin was chosen as the new executive secretary based on trust.

"Sinasabi ng ating Pangulo he is well qualified to be the executive secretary. Having put in so many years in the judiciary, he has the necessary legal background and the ability to deal with paper work," Cruz-Angeles said.

"Plus of course he is trusted and well-qualified of this," Cruz-Angeles added.

Cruz-Angeles, meanwhile, said she had no information when Marcos offered the post to Bersamin.

During his stint as the top magistrate, Bersamin was involved in rulings on high profile and controversial cases.

He voted in favor of the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and he also voted for the continued detention of opposition Senator Leila De Lima.

Bersamin was also part of the unanimous vote that declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund or the pork barrel as unconstitutional.

A graduate of the University of the East College of Law, Bersamin was appointed as Quezon City regional trial court judge in 1986, promoted to the Court of Appeals in 2003, and appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bersamin took over the post vacated by Atty. Vic Rodriguez who stepped down as executive secretary on Sept. 17.

Rodriguez is the current Presidential Chief of Staff. —KG, GMA News